Mokwana: Driven by a World Cup dream

“I AM going to do everything in my power to realise my dream. I dont think I will let anyone stand in my way. I will fight until the end so we can go to the World Cup in 2026”

- MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

Elias Mokwana was still basking in the afterglow of his fantastic assist, which helped break Lesotho’s stubborn resistance and secured Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory in the Group C World Cup qualifier at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium over the weekend.

Out in the rarefied atmosphere of The Ranch Resort, where his team-mates enjoyed a game of table tennis and some members of the technical team attempted to channel their inner Tiger Woods on the golf course, Mokwana was all chuckles as he reflected on that ‘run. He was, in a way, coerced into ‘doing what you are good at} the Esperance player revealed.

“At half-time, Tebza (Teboho Mokoena) and Ronza (Ronwen Williams) told me to do my thing. They told me to play just like I did against Algeria - to take the guys on. And then I said to Sailor (Khuliso Mudau), ‘pass me the ball?” he chuckled aloud, the pride of his contribution evident in the glint in his eye.

Picking up the ball on the right flank, Mokwana took on one marker and beat him. He went at another, appeared to lose the ball, but it fortuitously bounced off the Lesotho player and fell back into his path. He needed no second invitation — he ran towards the opposition’s goal, cut inside, and then laid the ball off for Relebohile Mofokeng to slot home his first Bafana goal in his first official start.

The capacity crowd at the 2010 World Cup venue went hysterical, and nearly everyone on the Bafana bench ran onto the pitch to celebrate.